Additive fault detection in nonlinear dynamic systems with saturation

This paper describes the effects of input saturation on the performance of a model-based fault detection method based on the input-output parity equation approach. For this purpose, the level control of a chemical reactor has been chosen as the control process to be analyzed, where the saturation of the dynamic process is due to the inflow control valve, and only additive faults have been considered. This study has been carried out in two ways: first by simulation techniques and second on a real industrial system. In the simulated case, the decrease in the fault detectability due to the saturation effects is shown, and some ways of achieving higher fault detectability are explored. The results obtained in the industrial case complement those obtained in the simulated case, and also reveal the existence of a relation between the control strategy used in the process and additive fault detectability, in the sense that increases in fault detectability are obtained due to the use of faster control strategies.